Campbell sued for heart-healthy sodium label

NEW YORK — A new lawsuit is contesting the validity of the heart-healthy claims on some cans of Campbell’s soups.

At the center of the federal lawsuit is the “Heart-Check” certification by the American Heart Association, and whether it rightfully conveys that a product carries particular health benefits.

The lawsuit says the nonprofit group lets Campbell and other companies use the “Heart-Check” label on products that run counter to its stated mission, in exchange for fees. The American Heart Association says its goal is to fight cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

To earn its “Heart-Check” certification, the group’s website states that products must have no more than 480 milligrams per serving. But the website also notes elsewhere that “low sodium” is defined as having 140 milligrams or less per serving, the lawsuit notes.

“The AHA, for a fee, abandons its general, non-commercial dietary and nutritional guidelines,” the lawsuit states.

A can of Campbell’s “Healthy Request” condensed Chicken Noodle Soup, which bears the certification mark in question, is listed as having 410 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving. The lawsuit notes that there are two or more servings per can, meaning there would be at least 820 milligrams of sodium in a can.

A representative for the American Heart Association, Amit Chitre, said in an email that the group doesn’t make recommendations on what qualifies as an appropriate level for an individual serving. The group simply states on its website that people should aim to eat 1,500 mg of sodium or less per day.

The lawsuit states that the AHA’s seal of approval misleads people into thinking in that products made by Campbell “possess some cardiovascular benefit not enjoyed by products that have not been certified by the AHA.” It states the only difference is that Campbell pays money for the certification.

Campbell Soup Co. said in an email that the company hasn’t been served with the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on it as a result. But the Camden, N.J.-based company said it had “complete confidence” in the accuracy of its labels and that they meet regulatory and other legal requirements.

The American Heart Association, based in Dallas, Texas, said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. It said its food certification program conducts lab testing to verify products that earn its certification meet nutritional criteria, which are more stringent than those of the Food and Drug Administration.

It said the administrative fees it charges companies only cover program costs.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.